. I bet if judgment day was to happen tomorrow he'd speck I
orter fix him a bucket to carry long. (She moves to exit, right)

SISTER TAYLOR: All men favors they guts, chile. But what you think of
all dis mess they got goin' on round here?

SISTER THOMAS: I just think it's a sin an' a shame befo' de livin'
justice de way dese Baptis' niggers is runnin' round here carryin' on.

SISTER TAYLOR: Oh, they been puttin' out the brags ever since Sat'day
night 'bout whut they gointer do to Jim. They thinks they runs this
town. They tell me Rev. CHILDERS preached a sermon on it yistiddy.

SISTER THOMAS: Lawd help us! He can't preach an' he look like 10 cents
worth of have-mercy let lone gittin' up dere tryin' to throw slams at
us. Now all Elder Simms done wuz to explain to us our rights ... whut
you think 'bout Joe Clarke runnin' round here takin' up for these ole
Baptist niggers?

SISTER TAYLOR: De puzzle-gut rascal ... we oughter have him up in
conference an' put him out de Methdis' faith. He don't b'long in
there--wanter tun dat boy outa town for nothin'.

SISTER THOMAS: But we all know how come he so hot to law Jim outa
town--hit's to dig de foundation out from under Elder Simms.

SISTER TAYLOR: Whut he wants do dat for?

SISTER THOMAS: 'Cause he wants to be a God-know-it-all an' a
God-do-it-all an' Simms is de onliest one in this town whut will buck
up to him.

(Enter SISTER JONES, walking leisurely)

SISTER JONES: Hello, Hoyt, hello, Lucy.

SISTER TAYLOR: Goin' to de meetin'?

SISTER JONES: Done got my clothes on de line an' I'm bound to be dere.

SISTER THOMAS: Gointer testify for Jim?

SISTER JONES: Naw, I reckon--don't make such difference to me which
way de drop fall.... 'Tain't neither one of 'em much good.

SISTER TAYLOR: I know it. I know it, Ida. But dat ain't de point. De
crow we wants to pick is: Is we gointer set still an' let dese Baptist
tell us when to plant an' when to pluck up?

SISTER JONES: Dat is something to think about when you come to think
'bout it. (Starts to move on) Guess I better go ahead--see y'all later
an tell you straighter.

(Enter ELDER SIMMS, right, walking fast, Bible under his arm, almost
collides with SISTER JONES as she exits.)

SIMMS: Oh, 'scuse me, Sister Jones. (She nods and smiles and exits.)
How you do, Sister Taylor, Sister Thomas.

BOTH: Good evenin', Elder.

SIMMS: Sho is a hot day.

SISTER TAYLOR: Yeah, de bear is walkin' de earth lak a natural man.